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MESWG is a community based working group coordinated by ICANN to promote the DNS Ecosystem in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. In this regard, MESWG is in the process of implementing an action plan prepared based on its Middle East Strategy Document in order to perform technical, training and dissemination activities.  Details of the MESWG plans and initiatives are available at Middle East.

Annexure A: Areas of Work

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Arabic LGR would contain the rules that identify the valid repertoire of code points for IDN TLDs, as well as the rules for identifying and possibly delegating any IDN variant TLD. The work is to be carried out as specified in the Procedure to Develop and Maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in Respect of IDNA Labels, laid out by ICANN.  The Arabic part of the LGR is to be developed by a Generation Panel (consisting of volunteers).  See http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-11jul13-en.htm Announcement (EN) 11 Jul 2013 for further details.

Second level LGRs for the Arabic script

Similar to the LGR for the Root Zone, LGRs may also be developed for use at the second and higher levels.  Though each registry may define its own LGR, a recent report published by ICANN on Examining the User Experience Implications of Active Variant TLDs argues that consistency of approach at these levels may also contribute positively to the end-user experience.  Arabic language community has already developed Linguistic Guidelines for the Use of the Arabic Language in Internet Domains (http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5564).   It .  It needs to be investigated how LGRs for other languages and communities may be developed, using similar underlying principles, to provide consistency of experience for all users of Arabic script.

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As part of the process to implement WHOIS review team recommendations and feedback from the community related to Internationalized Domain Name registration data requirements, ICANN is working to determine appropriate Internationalized Domain Name registration data requirements and data model for Registration Data Directory Services.  For example, see http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-08jul13-en.htm. Announcement (EN) 8 Jul 2013.  There is already experience in the Arabic script ccTLD community in using internationalized registration data.  The task force may determine any specialized requirements for registration data for Arabic script and inform ICANN.

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Even though Arabic IDNs are now delegated and deployed, there are still many issues in displaying and accessing them.  The recent Report on Universal Acceptance of IDN TLDs by ICANN community (see http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-25jun13-en.htm Announcement-2 (EN) 25 Jun 2013) brings up issues and relevant recommendations for assisting the adoption and use of IDNs.  Similarly, the report on Examining the User Experience Implications of Active Variant TLDs also identifies issues and recommendations in the context of IDN variants. The task force would look at these recommendations and undertake any follow up work needed for promoting the use and adoption of Arabic IDNs.

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